Pancreatitis
- Posted on: May 15 2018
The pancreas is a long, flat gland that is behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. Its main job is to produce enzymes that aid in a person’s digestion and hormones that help regular blood sugar levels.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It can be acute or chronic. At Ogden Clinic GI at McKay, we help patients treat or manage their pancreatitis.
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis usually occurs suddenly and lasts for a few days. These are common symptoms:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Fever
- Rapid pulse
- Abdominal pain that worsens after eating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tenderness when touching the abdomen
Chronic pancreatitis can occur and reoccur over years. These are its symptoms:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Losing weight without trying
- Oily, smell stools
What causes pancreatitis?
The inflammation of pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes become activated while they are still in the pancreas. This irritates the cells, causing inflammation. Repeated acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic pancreatitis. This can also cause scar tissue to form, damaging the functionality of the organ.
These are conditions that can lead to pancreatitis:
- Alcoholism
- Abdominal surgery
- Gallstones
- Certain medication
- Cystic fibrosis
- Cigarette smoking
- Family history
- High blood calcium levels
- High blood triglyceride levels
- Infection
- Abdominal injury
- Pancreatic cancer
At Ogden Clinic GI at McKay, we employ a variety of treatments for pancreatitis, depending on your symptoms and our diagnosis. These can be removing bile duct obstructions, gallbladder surgery, or even draining the pancreas.
If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, this can be a serious condition. Please call us at Ogden Clinic GI at McKay, 801.475.3680, to schedule your appointment.
Posted in: Pancreatitis
